FocalPoint helps three students pursue dreams with scholarships

SYRACUSE  FocalPoint Federal Credit Union, a Syracuse-based, not-for-profit financial cooperative that serves employees of more than 100 area companies, labor unions, schools and organizations is pleased to congratulate the 2011-12 winners of its annual FocalPoint College Scholarship program.

“We’re proud of these young members who are pursuing their dreams of going to college and we want to do everything we can to help make their educational dreams a reality,” FocalPoint’s President and CEO Marilyn Marra-Crolick said. “That’s why we’ve been awarding college scholarships for more than a decade. It’s an honor for FocalPoint to help young people who have inspired us with their hard work and commitment.”

Alesksandra Osborne, of Chittenango, will be using her $500 scholarship while attending Liberty University. She will be majoring in worship and music studies and minoring in youth ministries. Osborne graduated 10th in her class from Chittenango High School and was involved in National Honor Society as well as French Honor Society. She was also the vice president for the school’s select choir.

Darrius Ford, of Syracuse, graduated from Nottingham High School and will be applying his scholarship while attending Syracuse University of Visual and Performing Arts majoring in communication design. Ford volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club and was recognized with the “Youth of the Year Award” in 2010. He is also the vice president of the DECA club in his school and his artwork is displayed at Nottingham and Henninger High Schools.

Elizabeth Bilbo, of Liverpool, will be using her scholarship while attending Marymount Manhattan College, where she plans to major in theatre management. Bilbo participated in Liverpool High School’s National Honor Society and received many academic awards. She also participated in high school theatre.

FocalPoint is a full service, not-for-profit organization financial institution that has committed itself to serving members from its partner companies since 1957. FocalPoint has branches in Chittenango and Canandaigua. As a not-for-profit organization, FocalPoint returns its profits to members in sevral ways including higher yields on savings and lower rates on loans and cost-saving services.